Optus Job Cuts Could Be Coming As Outsourcing Considered

The Australian Financial Review has reported that Optus has decided to outsource its human resources and back office financial and accounting operations, with the telco having confirmed it is investigating its options.

According to the AFR report, Accenture and Infosys are understood to be among the leading companies vying to take over the telco’s back office functions.

“These changes require Optus to reshape its workforce with the skills required in an increasingly digital world and to invest in the capabilities required to bring ideas to market more quickly,” Optus had stated at the time. “As a result, Optus is proposing to make a number of roles redundant.”

Fairfax Media had reported at the time that up to 480 jobs would be cut.

The AFR has today reported that Optus confirmed plans were underway, while stating it is too early to tell which roles will be affected and how many employees will lose their jobs.

“We are currently reviewing our back office HR and finance operations to identify potential activities that could be outsourced over the next 12 months,” the AFR reported an Optus spokesperson as stating.

“While we are talking to a number of parties, we have not finalised arrangements with any vendors. Specific roles which may be affected have not yet been identified but we will work with employees who may be affected by these changes.”

The AFR reports that Optus expects to have settled on its suppliers in the next couple of months, with it understood employees affected will not lose their jobs until next year.